Digging machine



May 25 1926.

F. JONES DIGGING MACHINE Filed Jan. 26 l, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet l F. JCNES DIGGING MACHINE Filed Jan. 26

May 25 1926.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 25 ,1926, 1,585,863

. F. JONES DIGGING MACHINE Filed Jah. 26, 1925 4 sheen-,sheet :s

F. onus DIGGING MACHINE Filed Jan. 26. 1925 May 25 1926.

4 Sheets-Shee/t 4 715'@ Patented May z5, 1926..

UNITI-:n s'ra'ras PATENT OFFICE'.

l FRANK JONES, OF SAIT LAKE CITY-,IUIABL DIGGING MACHINE.

Application led January port the material to an op ositeside of the machine, and discharge t e said material at said latter Vpoint into a mine car or other receptacle which is to remove the material from the scene of operations. i A further object of the invention is the provision of a digging and conveying means, thev range of movement of which 'lies in a singlevertical plane, thereby requiring a relatively. small, or narrow space within which to operate.

A still-further object of the invention is A`'the provision of improved mechanism for causing the operation of the machine quickly and efficiently, the said mechanism being compactly arrangedA upon the machine so that it will not require extensive space with-- in which-to operate.

lVith the above and other objects in' view, ythe invention consists of the parts and combinations of parts as set forth in the appended specification and claims. Referring to the drawings forming a part of this application, in which like reference characters indicate like parts in theaseveral views v Fig. 1 is'a side elevation of my improved vdigging machine,

. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same,

Fig. 3 is a, rear elevation of the same, Fig. @fis an end elevation of the shovel, showing the position 'of parts' when the shovel is at the lower end of the tracks in digging position,` Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the shovel, showing the position of the parts when the track ksection is raised and the bail disengaged fromthe end gate 'of the shovel,

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view o'nthe line-- of Fig. 4,

Fig. 7 `is a fragmental side elevation of the upperend of the track, showing the shovel just about'to discharge its contents,

2G, 1925. Serial No. 4,761.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view'of a detail of construction, and

F ig. 9 is a vertical sectional view of the ends of the movable track sect-ions, showing the rubber bum ers positioned'therein.

Referring to tiie drawings, the numeral l indicates the main body or truck of the present ina-chine. This truck is mounted upon suitable wheels 2, running upon tracks 3, the saidtracks being of the usual character employed in mining or digging operations. 'Two` wheels are provided at each side of the machine in the manner shown. Carried by the frame 1, are air cylinders ,-l,

one of said cylinders being placed at each,

side, of the machine. Suitable is'tons, not shown, are mounted within said cylinders, and attached to each of said pistons is a piston rod 5 which projects through the rear of the cylinder, and passes through an elongated slot or-opening formed in the upper end of the clamp 6, suitable bolting means 5a holding said piston rod firmly in I position within said slot and permitting the automatic adjustment or movement-of the machine to accommodate for curves or variations in the gauge of the mine tracks 3. At its lower-end, each clamp is curved as at 6 to form one section of a clamping body, the other section being provided by a separate plate 7 having a like curved end 7B. the clamps 6 and 7, and, as will be seen from F ig. 3, the'clamping sections` of each of said clamps are positioned surrounding and graspinv the adjacent rail 3. The inner surfaces o? vthe clamping members 6a and 7a may be serrated or roughened to increase the gripping action on the rails 3. By this l means, the clamping members, and in turn the piston rods are fixed, and the wheels of Bolt-ing means-7b aroused to connect the machine are movable to and fro upon the is attached to the forward end of the truck 1. As best shown in Fig. 8, a. band 1l is belted, t9 the front 0f the Seid b21-1" 10? this v tural support 13 for the band being engaged by two hook bolts 12 and l2, attached to each side of the bed plate 8, the said hook bolts being thus provided to hold the said bed plate down upon pins 16 and'l carried by tracks. and 17, 4

one section of track being thus pivotally mounted upon each of said structural mem bers 14. 'The tracks `17, are formed of channeled members in substantially the form and shape shown in the drawings, the channeled"v faces of the same being adapted to receive wheels or rollers 18 carried on, opposite sides of a shovel 19, which latter .is thus adapted to move back and forth along and'between the said channeled tracks 17 and 17. Gar

ried by "each of the said track ymembersl 17 is a suitable roller 20 which -bears against the forward surface of the adjacent struc- 'support to the shoveling means during the y digging -operatiom'an'd taking thev strain oil lend gate c the .pivot pins "16., Near the lower end off,v

the said channeled tracks 17 and l17 are two y i .,cha1n'40 fastenedatone end to the rear side lugs -21 and 21 connected by a cross-piece 22, as shownyfor thepurpose of' keeping the two .channeled tracks thus keepfthe gage o .the tracks true.

A oted bail: 23,':which is connected by means of a rope'for able :24` with a spring y25', which The bail `23 `passes. around the rear of theshovel 19 and bears against the end gate 19 d uring'thedigging operation,- the said bail thus 'serving as a means for holding the said osed A'during the digging operation. Attached to the upper end of. each of the forward supports 13 and ,to Ymove if' against .the end'gate v19, thereby permitting openin fot the` said -fgatel' whenfthe shovel is to umped 'l be hereinafter de.-l 5cm .4., ,i Mn.

,thalatter is yto be durnpeed.l "Referring tail t e latching means, the miniera-129 designates ay latching bar,'pivotally mounted at to the right ot the renter of 'the bar, to

in Figs. 4 and 5, with its opposite ends `29 is adapte purpose et giving roperly' spaced and to@ i) Ae tached totheexterior of each track is a piveither end of is a curved 'segment 28 `which acts kto `engage said vbail 23 upon the. liftinghof thetraks and shovel,-v

t elbailirom itsl position of the machine, .and 'lin attached to the lug-41 onthe movable vvbe Athe cylinder .and other.

being adapted to receive an end of the bar 29., When the bar 29 is positioned, as shown engaging the lugs 32 and 33 respectively, the end gate 19a is locked in closed sition. At the tcp of one ot' the tracks 17 is provided a. cam plate 34, againstwhich the' outwardly extending, u wardly movable end of the bar to ride when the shovel reachesA aposition at the rear of the tracks, the said bar projecting to the side of the shovel a sufficient distance to be thus engaged by the cam. The riding of the bar 29 over the cam 34 will cause movement of said bar about the pivot 30 from engagement with thelugel v32 and 33, thus in turn .releasing the end gate 19 anfd allowing vthe said gate to swing vopen V and discharge the contents of the shovel, as the shovelreaches the end of its backward gtravel...

is securedltothetruck frame 1, just back ci and between the upright supports 13-13.

.A piston (not shown) is mounted within the Saidair-.cyIinden the said piston having pis- 1 ton rods 36 and J37 'which project from opposite ends of thecylinder 35,.and carry at their ends -rollers 38and 39, respectively. A

ofcglinder 35,"passes around the roller 33 A,on t e end of piston rod 36,' and thenforward to a lug 41, which is rigidly secured-to they bed plate 8.' 'A similar chain 40% passes around-.the zroller'39, on thepiston rod 37 and is likewise'connectedto the lug 41. Air is admitted to each end of the cylinder 35 through four-way valve43; As airis admitted to the cylinder .35, the piston will be forced toward the opposite end, causing the piston rod and roller thereon to be thrust outwardly, in turn'dramfing the opposite rod and roller inwardly'- One end of the chains 40 and 40".being attachedfto [the stationa Acylinder 35 which ismountedn'pon the truc r 'the-opposite ends be-y plate 8, movement ofthe-piston rods will, throughthe said chains, act' upon the lug 41 to move the bed plate Sand. all structure mounted thereon .from side to side about 'the king bolt 9,'the said bed lplate having slots' 44,45 and-.4:6 therein to provide for l partsA attached to the fixed body ortruck 1. '1

l'fThe tracks 17, upon which the shovel runs, are raised' andlowered by means of wire ropes 47,v attached to lugs 48.!Jie22n?AV the lower pipe connections 42 leading from a end of each of the tracks. Each rope passes up around Aa hoisting sheave'49 at the top of adjacent main standards 13, then down and around sheaves 50 carried by the piston rods 51 pro'ecting' from the air cylinders 52 inounte upon the machine at opposite sides thereof, and from said sheaves up to the to of the main frame to which vit is fastene at 53. A piston of the usual type is mounted within each air cylinder 52 to be acted upon by the air admitted to the cylinder on opposite sides of the said piston, the air being admitted at opposite ends of the said cylinder. When the shovel and tracks are to be raised, air is admitted to the top of each cylinder 52 thereby forcingthe pistons therein downwardly. The piston rods l and the sheaves 50 carried thereby are drawn downwardly, andi-:due to the attachment of the ends of the wire ropes 47 to the mainframe andato the tracks, such downwardly movement of the pistons and sheaves will cause an upward movement of the tracks and the shovel carried thereby. While the weight of the tracks and shovel should besuilicient to lower them, such lowering may be facilitated by admitting air to the lower end of the cylinders 52 and raising the pistons therein. i Airis admitted to each end of said cylinders through pipe connections 53 and 54, leading from a four-way valve 55. l

Each of the main cylinders 4, and 52 are connected by suitable pipes vwith separate tour-way valves 56, 43 and'55 respectively, the said valves being underthe control of the operatorfof the machine for accomplishing the various operations of digging and loading. Each of the said valves' is connected through suitable branch supplv pipes to the main air line of the mine.

While I have Vreferred to-fthe use of airv as movement in either direction.

the operating fluid, it is to be understoodl that steam or other iiuid pressure could likewise be used. f j

For the purpose of preventing the dirt from falling and lodging between the sides of the shovel and the tracksduring thedigging operation, I have provided a curved piece of iron 57 riveted to the top of each track near the lower end thereof.v Rubber bumpers. 58 are-'mounted at both ends of each track, serving as abutments against which the wheels of the shovel will `strike when the shovel, reaches the limit of its in the operation of the present machine,

. the latter is moved upon the mine tracks to a position near the muck ile or other location of the material to e removed, the clamps 6 are attached to the rails 3 ofthe track, the shovel is in the lowered position, and the machine is ready to operate. Air is admitted through the valve 56 to the cylinders il, thus forcing the machine and the shovel ahead and into the pile of material. Air is now admitted through the valve 55 to the tops vot the cylinders 52, and through the ropes i7 the tracks 17 and shovel 19 are raised to the. elevated position shown in dotted lines in Fig. l. YUpon the raising of the tracksthe segment 28 engages the bail 23 and disengages the latter from its latching position against the end gate 19 of the shovel. Upon the tracks reaching their upward limit Vof movement, the shovel will ru-n by gravity toward the rear of the machine, the latching bar 29 will be released by the cam 34 and the end gate will be free to swing open and dump the material within the shovel, the dumping being facilitated by the sudden abutment of the shovel rollers against the rubber bumpers 58 at the rear of the tracks 17 i The tracks are now lowered and the shovel will run by gravity to the forward end ot thesame, 1t being also understood that air has been vadmitted to the rear endsof the cylinders 4 throu h the valve V56 and the machine thereby rawn to the rear. The latcliing bar 29 will drap into latched posi-A tion upon the closing of the end gate, since one end of said latching bar is heavier than the other end because of the pivot point of fsaid bar being o center, and as-the shovel reaches the forward ends of the tracks, the bail 23 will latch in place, and the shovel 1 is again read to be forced into the pile of material. 'I it is necessary to swing the shovel from side to side, such movement is 35, and thereafter the tracks and shovel are raised, and the shovel-dumped as hereinbefore described.

In the machine thus described, it will be noted 4that the movement of the shoveling means takes place within substantially a single vertical plane, that is, the shovel digs, and is raised, and carried. rearwardly without any side movement of the same. The aotionis .very similar to the action of a man in throwing dirt over his shoulder, the advantage of this movement beingthat it permits operation. of the machine within a limited space, this being particularly advantageous in mining operations. The operation Lof the machine is easily under the control of a single operator, the movement of the digging and conveying means is efficient and rapid, and the machine will handle the material in a much quicker and more' eliicient manner than other machines of this character now in use. The parts are strongly constructed, and the machine is not likely to become disabled through dealing with heavy, or rocky material.

It will be noted, also, that although the' shoveling and lifting actions are independent of each other, yet, when necessary, as

4: Lacasse in the case of encountering a large rock, the

, shovel can be gradually lifted any distance desired While being forced ahead at the same time; in other words, the two actions can be combined when necessary, giving a sort ofscooping action.

Itis to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a referred example of the same, and that various changes may be made in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts without departmg from the s irit of my invention or the scope of the su joined claims.

Having thus described my. invention, I claim l 1. A machine of the character described, comprising a base, a track ivotally mount- 1 ed thereon, a. shovel carrie vby the ree end of the track, an anchor, extensible means connecting the base andA anchor, means to expand and contract said extensible means for y the purpose of crowding the shovel, and' means carried by thetrack in engagement with the base for relieving strain on the track pivot during crowding of the shovel.

2. A machine of the character described,

. comprising a base, an inclined track movably mounted thereon, a shovel mounted on the trackv an anchor, extensible means connecting the base and anchor, means for expanding and contracting the extensible means for the purpose ofl crowding the shovel, means to elevate the track to discharge the shovel, and'bufers carried by 4the track and designed to` engage the base whereby to relieve the track pivot of strain during crowding. Y

3. The combination with a track, cfa

I wheeled base movable thereon, a power c linder carried by the base, a piston mova 'le therein-and a piston rod carried by the piston, a clamp secured to the track and connected to the piston rod, and fluid pressure means to energize the power cylinder to vmove the base upon the track, said clamp being provided with a 'transverse slot wlthin which the piston rod lis free to move laterale" said bail engaging and sup ly, whereby to com ensate for lateral irregularities oif the traclk.

4f. machine of the character described, comprising a base, an inclined track pivotally mounted thereon a shovel mounted on the track, a pivoted bail for retaining the shovel in loadedposition at the lower end of the track, means for retaining the bail in v mounted upon said platform, two of said uprights being at lthe rear thereof; a trackway extending from front to rear of the ma- A chlne, said trackway comprising two spaced channeledtracks, each of said tracks being. 1

horizontally pivoted upon one .of said rear structural uprights; means'connecting and spacing said tracks; a shovel carried by said trackway and operable thereupon, upon movement of said trackway in a vertical v plane; rollers upon opposite sides of said I shovel, said rollers being mounted within the channeled face of said tracks; a ,cam surface'at the rear of one of said tracks; an end gate at the rear of v said shovel; latching means for said end gate, said latching means being released by said cam surface; a pivot- A ed bail at the forward end of said trackway, rting the shovel whenA the latter isr at said forward end; means for releasing said bail upon raising of the shovel; and means for moving said trackway in a vertical plane to cause movement of the shovel thereupon.

In testimony whereof he hereunto af'xes his signature.

raam Joana 

